Cheyney University has received a $145,000 grant from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to launch a summer bridge program aimed at preparing students for college success.
The weeklong residential program will begin in summer 2026. It is designed to help incoming students build academic skills, foster connections with faculty and peers and ease their transition to college life.
It will also include a cultural enrichment component tied to the HBCU Swingman Game on July 10, part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week, showcasing top HBCU talent and celebrating HBCU culture in partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies.
“This grant represents an investment in a powerful, research-based summer experience that will set our students up to succeed in college and beyond,” said Cheyney’s Dean of the Honors Academy Janelle L. West in a statement.
“We are grateful to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund for the vote of confidence this award represents and for the opportunity to raise the bar on student support at the very start of the academic year,” she added.
Cheyney University President Aaron Walton said the grant reflects the hard work of West and her team as well as the university’s vision for growth.
“It’s an acknowledgement of the vision and impact that drives Cheyney University forward,” he said in a statement. “The investment from this program will help us prepare our students, strengthen academic achievement and create more life-changing opportunities that set Cheyney apart.”
Named after the first Black justice to serve on the Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall, TMCF is the largest organization exclusively representing the Black college community. It represents 55 public HBCUs across 24 states and has provided more than $500 million in support to its member institutions.
The news for the grant comes as Cheyney experiences significant enrollment growth. Fall enrollment rose nearly 38% from last year, reaching 851 students, up from 617. Since 2018, the university has grown by an average of 11.6% per year. Cheyney aims to reach 1,200 students in the near future.
Founded in 1837, Cheyney University is the nation’s oldest HBCU and is in Chester and Delaware counties.
“We continue to attract highly talented administrators, professors, and staff committed to our students’ success,” Walton said in a statement.
“This focus, along with investment in campus facilities, has created an environment where students thrive. Renewed dedication and commitment have driven this organic growth,” he added.
